Countdown to Tipoff | Louisville vs. No. 15 Indiana in Battle 4 Atlantis, TV info and more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Knowing Pat Kelsey’s Cincinnati background, Xavier’s ancestry and his Elder High School roots, you might not have pegged him as an Indiana basketball fan.

But Kelsey said Tuesday that he was a Hoosier fan growing up. As his team prepares for Wednesday’s noon game against Mike Woodson’s 15th-ranked Indiana team in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas, he is aware not only of Indiana’s historical significance, but also what this game means to him Team.

“I don’t even know if I should say this, but I grew up an Indiana fan,” Kelsey said. “Steve Alford was my favorite player when they won the championship in 1987 and I remember how crazy I was cheering for Indiana. When I got a little older, we got season tickets to Xavier games. My dad played there and I became more of a Xavier fan than an Indiana fan, but obviously very aware of their history, their mystique and their tradition.”

Louisville will play a national team for the second time this season after a loss to Tennessee. Indiana did not face a ranked team in the regular season, but defeated Indiana in a preseason scrimmage.

A look at the matchup:

Game at a glance

Teams: Louisville (3-1) vs. No. 15 Indiana

When: Noon, Wednesday, November 27th

Where: Imperial Ballroom, Paradise Island, Bahamas

Transmitted: ESPN (Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli), Louisville Radio Network, 93.9 FM The Ville, IU Radio Network.

Trainer: Pat Kelsey – 3-1 in his first year at Louisville and 264-123 in his 13th year overall. Mike Woodson – 67-40 in his fourth year at Indiana and overall.

Why it matters

For Louisville, it’s another chance for an early statement win as first-year coach Pat Kelsey looks to establish himself and re-establish the Louisville brand.

For Indiana, it’s a rare chance for a quality non-conference win on a schedule that doesn’t offer many opportunities.

A win for either team will add value to their NCAA Tournament resume later in the season. And it’s a chance to put your best foot forward in the national spotlight.

Players to keep an eye on

For Indiana, sophomore Mackenzie Mgbakowho once considered playing at Louisville before settling in Bloomington, was the leading scorer, averaging 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

For Louisville, Reyne SmithA senior transfer guard from Australia who followed Kelsey from Charleston, he was the leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points in four games and shooting 42 percent from three-point range.

Statistics that matter

Louisville is shooting just 29.4 percent from three-point range, but is hitting 54.6 percent of its shots from beyond the arc, second in the country. Indiana was the opposite. The Hoosiers look inside to score points – nearly 70 percent of their shot attempts come from two-point range.

X factors

The matchup problems for Louisville could be 6-9 Malik Reneauwho averages 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds and is 7 feet tall Omar Ballou, who averages 12 points and almost 10 rebounds per game. They will pose interior problems for a Louisville team that has yet to show any significant interior presence.

Louisville will need a strong night from 6-11 sophomore James Scott, and it will need players like that Noah Watterman And Kasean Pryor shooting a good percentage from distance to force Reneau and Ballou onto the court defensively. Louisville will need to shoot at a better three-point rate than before to offset Indiana’s advantage inside.

The setting

Louisville’s first foray into major competition did not go well. The Cardinals were physically dominated in a 22-point home loss to Tennessee. The fact that this Indiana team beat Tennessee during a preseason matchup in Knoxville doesn’t bode well for Louisville. But in a game that was considered a lopsided game a year ago, Indiana had to resort to a zone defense late to eke out a win against Louisville in New York City. Given that Indiana’s preferred strength on offense, the inside game, is more reliable than Louisville’s preferred strength – the three-point shot – especially in a game played in a resort ballroom, I’m leaning towards Indiana in to give this game the advantage. Still, Indiana hasn’t played great three-point defense this season, and Louisville as a team is due. This Louisville team has been to the Bahamas once this year and won two summer exhibitions at Baha Mar. This time, however, the Cardinals face the challenge, and the question remains how they will withstand another important test. The Choice: Indiana 81-78.